Elliott Avenue & How To Destroy A Neighbourhood

Elliott Avenue, Carnegie has featured prominently in the news and on this site. (See what it looked like a little while back – https://gleneira.wordpress.com/2015/02/09/one-little-local-street/). It is now utterly destroyed because of the new zones. Not only Elliott Avenue, but all surrounding areas. People are leaving in droves – not because they are after a profit in selling to developers, but because their dream home, their lifestyle, and everything they valued about this area has disappeared. Yet council has not had the guts to do a single thing about its slipshod and woeful planning. No amendments of any note have occurred in the past two years for housing diversity. No promises made ten years ago have been implemented. No concern whatsoever for the chaos caused by these developments that can take a year, so that residents can’t even get out of their driveways because of trucks in the street – many no doubt without work permits! All councillors can do is complain about not having the ‘tools’ in the planning scheme, or that they really need to look carefully at Neerim Road (Okotel). But they have not lifted a finger to get the ball rolling on anything. And what of the urban heat effect that all these dwellings will create? What of infrastructure? What of subterranean car parks that impact on the water table? What of parking? What of open space? Not a thing done!

In order to give residents an idea of what is happening we’ve colour coded the following street map which shows development since the zones were introduced. Council can blame everyone else until the cows come home – but there is no denying that the zones are without doubt the impetus for all this overdevelopment. With good strategic planning and community consultation some of the damage could have been avoided – but that of course means less rates and treating residents with respect!

Yes, this is indeed awful. I feel very sorry for all those residents who have spent a fortune maintaining these lovely old homes, raising their children there and who will now be inundated by concrete boxes, no parking, noise, and lack of green open space that were front and back gardens not so long ago. Every single site will be denuded of trees and replaced with tiny saplings that may or may not survive depending on the vigilance of some body corporate or individual owners.

Not once that I know of has any councillor stated what is “saturation point” or how many dwellings can this municipality accommodate.

I also resent the fact that my rates are being used to subsidise developers on drainage and other amenities. For this unfolding disaster I hold each and every councillor responsible. They are definitely not representing the community.

It not 100% wrecked yet, but Cr. Pilling the guy that was going to bring more transparency and democracy to Glen Eira will be working day and night to make sure it is, (MODERATORS: rest of sentence deleted)

I wish contributors to this site would get some things straight. What we experience in Glen Eira has been strategically, deliberately and consistently planned since at least the time when the first CEO Margaret Douglas resigned in 1999. In the first instance management propose and Councillors dispose. Unless one accepts and understands this separation of powers nothing can make sense in Glen Eira Council.

Secondly, as far as city development and urban design aspects are concerned, which are the major concerns and criticisms on this blog, this is only done for properties that the Council owns and has a 100% responsibility for. Examples are Bentleigh and Carnegie libraries, Caulfield Park or other parks, GESAC, Duncan-McKinnon and many, many other examples. Private property development are subject to State Gov’t regulations and this Council strategically does not do more than it is absolutely necessary. Since 2,000 city development has been done on the basis of flexibility, strict financial control, and minimum Council intervention. The Planning Scheme reflects those strategies. Attempts to regulate more and/or restrict the proposed development frameworks since about 2002 are met with strenuous opposition from management.

Thirdly, all residents consultations for issues that may require it, are the responsibility of Councillors with management assistance. It is not considered necessary and only if there is State Government regulation. Other stakeholder/developer consultations and/or negotiations are done through the process of planning/building applications or amendments.

Since 2005 we had a pretty good co-operation between most Councillors and administration, because of similar ideological views and mindset. The conclusion therefore is simple. Unless there are changes of those cosy arrangements Glen Eira will continue the same merry way.

Extremely well put. Managerialism has become the catchcry of all governments. In Glen Eira council it is a euphemism for despotism, supported by legislation and a philosophy that believes the separation of powers is essential. In local government, and Glen Eira is the classic example, this approach has lead to execrable governance, lack of transparency and the cementing of Newton and his well paid band of merry men.

I becoming increasing am p*ssed off at Councillors continually saying that “I can’t comment on a proposed development because it hasn’t come to Council yet”. The reason it hasn’t come before Council yet is because under Delegations, Councillors have decided to hand it all over to the administration – the Officer’s (under the guise of the officer only Delegated Planning Committee) decide if and when it goes to Council and until they make that decision Councillors are not permitted to ask about a proposed development.

I’d appreciate the Mayor’s comments on the legal designation of Councillors, as representatives of the community, as being responsible for governing the municipality vs. his and other Councillors acceptance of the role of Administrative Rubber Stamp..

Quite frankly, I can’t think of a more graphic example that illustrates the reversal of legally defined roles. For gods sake, if the Mayor can’t comment on a 9 storey tower that is twice the size of any building in the suburb of Bentleigh because he has signed away his right to ask questions then what does that tell you about the quality of Councillors and the Administration and who truly governs.

Just some examples of how strategic the Council is are:
1. Carnegie Library foreground development – has the public been involved? is it necessary? is it a priority?
2. Booran Rd is getting a more expensive bicycle path to replace the previous lines – did anybody ask for it? May be it was suggested by a Councillor? Who knows? Is it a priority?
3. Booran Rd Reservoir is being established as a park – at long last, but is the deadline to please some people in Rosstown Ward? Preparing for next year election?

Spending millions on cosmetic changes looks okay in the balance sheets and bolsters the claims about massive spending on open space. That is what Carnegie library is all about. Millions are squandered on nothing. Instead of buying more open space and developing that as the top priority our lot spend a fortune on renovating existing open space and that includes pouring tons of concrete into the area. With bicycle paths the budget has been cut 2 years running. Another indication of the priority given to cycling and safety. All in all great planning and great use of funds and no extra open space when the population is booming.